"Microsoft Corp. said on Monday it would launch its new Xbox 360 game console in Japan and Europe in time for the year-end holiday shopping season.

Microsoft, which unveiled the Xbox 360 in May, had already announced plans to launch the console this year in the United States ahead of the holiday season, which begins in late November.

It had previously said Japanese and European launches would follow within six weeks.

Microsoft's new white-and-silver concave console will feature three PowerPC-based microprocessors joined onto one chip to deliver powerful computing and advanced graphics, as well as a detachable 20-gigabyte hard drive and a wireless controller.

It aims to unseat gaming market leader Sony Corp. by launching the Xbox 360 ahead of Sony's planned launch of its PlayStation 3 in spring 2006.